No major success on 9th day of CTOs , COAS visit forward locations

Shyam Sood

Rajouri, Oct 19: Ensuing Counter Terrorist Operations (encounters) in Poonch & Rajouri districts have entered the 9th day on Tuesday and has become one of the longest ones carried out by the Security Forces during last about 18 years.

Even on the 9th day, no major success was achieved in eliminating the terrorists hiding in Nar Khas forest.

The terrorists, who are hiding in a very safe place and look to be highly trained in jungle warfare, respond intermittently to heavy fire, mortar shelling by the Army.

For the last 6 days Army continuously searching the forested area at Nar Khas and as per reports have busted few possible hideouts in the dense forest by using illuminating bombs during nights.

Meanwhile, J&K police reportedly have detained 6-8 persons allegedly for providing logistical support to the group of terrorists present in the area.

To break this chain of logistic support to the terrorists by the locals, the police on Tuesday made an appeal to the people of Bhata Dhurian area urging them not to move towards the forests and also to keep their livestock in their houses.

The appeals were made using the public systems of the Mosques situated in the entire area. People apprehending a major offensive against the hiding terrorists after such appeals were made on Tuesday.

Sources said the Army, elite commandos of the Army, J&K police, and paramilitary forces have tightened the noose around the area where the terrorists are hiding and preparing for the final assault after taking every possible measure to avoid any further loss of soldiers.

Already Army has lost nine brave hearts, including two JCOs, in the ongoing Counter-Terrorist Operations at two locations.

On the 2nd of his stay at Rajouri, Army Chief General M M Naravane on Tuesday visited the forward areas along the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch districts and reviewed the security situation.

The visit of the Army Chief was to take stock of the security situation in the area, especially in the backdrop of the ensuing gunfight with a group or groups of terrorists in Nar Khas area in Poonch district and martyrdom of nine soldiers during the encounter.